Fabric strip measuring mechanism



March 15, 1955 s. BLAKE 2,703,933

FABRIC STRIP MEASURING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30, 1953 Q .5? LL N .9 LI- O O O O q 3 S! To I0 0 g l,- D O mmvrox. SAMUEL BLAKE A M E; war/ 41M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O FABRIC STRIP MEASURING MECHANISM Samuel Blake, Waban, Mass., assignor to Enterprise- Moakler Co. Inc., East Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 30, 1953, Serial No. 401,179

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-132) This invention relates to novel mechanism for measuring predetermined lengths of fabric strip material, and more particularly to mechanism adapted to cooperate with fabric strip treating machines to draw predetermined lengths of fabric strip therethrough and stop the strip at predetermined locations to be treated.

The invention is especially applicable to use in conjunction with machines for making side wall strips for mattresses. These strips require punching in predetermined locations for the placing of grommets, ventilators and handles, and the employment of my invention with such machines facilitates these operations with great saving of time and increased production and also assures an accurate and superior product.

The invention embodies an endless band having one end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a fabric strip treating machine and provided with means for attaching the free end of the strip to the band. Power means is provided for operating the band to draw the fabric strip through the machine, and automatically controlled means is provided for stopping the band and strip in predetermined locations wherein the strip is to be treated. The production of a mechanism of this nature and for the purpose described comprises the primary object of the invention.

These and other features of my invention will be best appreciated and understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a mechanism embodying my invention disposed in operating position adjacent to a fabric strip treating machine,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the control mechanism, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a fabric strip treated by the machine.

In the drawings, my novel measuring mechanism A 1s shown in association with a machine B. The machine B is employed to punch four holes in predetermined locations in a strip of fabric 11. A roll 12 of the fabric is supported adjacent to the machine B, and the strip is led therefrom between a pair of pressure rolls 14 and thence beneath a plurality of punches 15 under the control of a treadle 16. A predetermined length of the strip is employed as the side wall of a mattress, and four series of holes 10 are required to be formed in predetermined locations in the strip for receiving handles, grommets and ventilators. The measuring mechanism A is adapted to move the strip along the required length to form these holes and perform such other functions as may be required, as will now be described.

The mechanism A is supported on an upright frame 18 adapted to be placed adjacent to the machine B. Supported on the frame 18 and extending outwardly therefrom, preferably at an upwardly inclined angle, is a relatively long frame 20 also supported at its free end by a bracket 21. Supported on rolls 22 adjacent to the ends of the frame 20 is an endless band 24 having a top reach extending along the frame 20. One portion of the band carries a series of teeth 26 adapted to receive and anchor the free end of the strip 11 to the band. When the band is driven in the direction of the arrow, the strip is drawn from the roll 12 and passed beneath the punches 15.

2,703,933 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 The band is driven by a motor 28 and the following described mechanism, the motor being under the control of a hand switch 30. A friction disk 31 driven by the motor is opposed to a disk 32 splined to a shaft 34. A spring 35 and pivoted lever arm 36 normally hold the disk 32 spaced from the disk 31, and in engagement with a fixed braking surface 38. Energizing of a solenoid 40 is aldaipgeld to move the disk 32 into engagement with the A belt 42 connects the shaft 34 with a shaft 41 carrying a worm 42 in mesh with a worm wheel 44. A chain 46 and sprockets connect the worm wheel with the adjacent roll 22. The motor is rotated in a direction to drive the band 24 in the direction of the arrow when the solenoid 40 is energized.

The circuit to the solenoid 40 is under the control of a switch 47 operated by a secondsolenoid 48. Closing of the hand switch 50 energizes the solenoid 48 from a line circuit 49 which thereupon closes switches 47 and 52 in both solenoid circuits. The circuit through switch 52 includes an automatic control switch 54 and a normally closed manual switch 56. The switch 54 is mounted on and adjustable along the bars 57 supported on a frame 58 and extending transversely over the top reach of the band 24. The switch 54 includes an arm 60 normally in contact with the band and is closed when in such contact. Raising of the arm opens the switch and de-energizes the solenoid 48, whereupon switch 47 opens and deenerglzes the solenoid 40. Opening of the manual switch 56 will also function to de-energize the solenoids.

One portion of the band 24 is provided with a plurality of parallel rows of stop elements 62, and the switch 54 and arm 60 are adjustable selectively to bring the arm lnto contact with any one of the rows. Each row contains a plurality of stop elements for raising the arm 60 and stopping the fabric strip, the stops in each row being differently positioned to provide for differently spaced treating operations. When punching the strip piece 64 shown n Fig. 4, the four stops 62 in the row selected will be positioned to stop the machine at locations to be punched as illustrated in Fig. 4. An additional stop element 65 1s also provided in each row following the elements 62 for stopping the band at the completion of its cycle of punching operations in each piece. The punched piece is then cut off along a straight edge indicated at 68 and, when the band is again operated, the punched piece will be carried to and dropped into a receiving box 70. A shield 72 is carried on the outer end of the frame 20 for receiving the punched strip and conducting it to the box.

Following the stop elements 65 is a stop abutment 66 commonto all the rows for stopping the band at the start mg position illustrated in the drawing. After each piece 64 is cut off, the band is again started by closing the switch at 50 and the abutment 66 thereafter automatically stops the band in the starting position illustrated.

The mechanism is adapted to complete one strip piece 64 at each cycle of its opertaion, i. e. movement of the band 24 from the starting position through the cycle and to the stop position wherein the stop 65 has raised the switch arm 60. Different sized mattresses require pieces 64 of different lengths and the stops 65 are positioned to provide for this variation. At the end of each cycle, the finished piece is cut off along the line 68. The machine is then started and continues to. function until stopped by the abutment 66 which represents the starting position for the next cycle. The free end of the strip 11 is engaged with the pins 26 on the band and the next cycle is then started.

The operator starts and stops the motor 28 at the switch 30 and the motor is adapted to run continuously during the operation of the machine. 11 has been attached to the band, as above described, the operator presses the switch 50 to start the band. The first stop element 62 coming in contact with the arm 60 thereafter opens the switch 54-60 and stops the band with the strip in proper position for the first punching. After stepping on the treadle 16 and performing the punching operation, the operator again closes the switch 50 whereupon the strip is moved to the next punching posi- When the strip tion and the punching operation is thereupon repeated. These operations are repeated until the strip piece 64 has been completed and is ready to be cutoff along the line 68.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fabric strip measuring mechanism, comprising an endless band, means supporting the band for longitudinal movement along a predetermined path, power means for driving the band, means for attaching one end of a fabric strip to the band, means for starting the power means to move the band and carry the strip parallel therewith, and means including a plurality of parallel and transversely spaced rows of stop elements disposed in predetermined spaced relation on and longitudinally along the band and an arm selectively adjustable into contact with the rows for automatically and selectively stopping move- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,492 Longfield Oct. 13, 1942 2,369,290 Foard Feb. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 219,369 Germany Feb. 26, 1910 

